Week In Review (WIRE) News 10.13.2025

Edited by Mary Wahn, Grey Cohen, John Wilson, Ethan Joyce, Bianca Orfila-Molinet

Asia and the Pacific

Written by Jesse Vu

Australia and Papua New Guinea Sign a Mutual Security Defense Treaty 

For the first time in over 70 years, Australia formalized a mutual security pact with its nearest neighbor and former colony, Papua New Guinea. Other than the ANZUS treaty, which Australia signed with the U.S and New Zealand in 1951, this security agreement marks a rare occasion as it is the only other security treaty Australia has ever entered. 

Australian Prime Minister Albanese declared this signing historic for both nations as he announced the security pact known as “Pupuk”. According to the ABC, the pact recognizes that an attack on either Australia or Papua New Guinea gravely endangers the region’s peace and stability. As a result, in the event of an attack, the two countries would work together to address the issue and resolve any ongoing conflicts thereafter. The pact also paves the way for ten thousand Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian Defense Force, which is an unprecedented integration of the two countries’ military personnel.

Due to the two countries’ close proximity, acquiring this defense pact is a strategic victory for the Australian government. Officially, it places Australia, rather than China, as PNG’s main defense partner, which hinders any efforts from the Chinese government to strengthen defense ties with Port Moresby. Additionally, the security pact binds both countries specifically not to undertake any defense activities with third parties, implying China, and serves as a diplomatic win for the Australian government.

Other than Australia and New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Tonga are the only South Pacific Island nations with militaries. If approved by the Australian Parliament, this deal serves as a significant security guarantee to Australia as the country continues to negotiate a defense pact with Fiji and builds regional security.

Central America and the Caribbean

Written by Gabriella Ramirez

Uncertainty Grows Surrounding U.S. and Venezuela Tensions 

The U.S. Senate voted on legislation to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to use deadly force against drug cartels following the destruction of four vessels and the deaths of 21 individuals in the Caribbean. The War Powers Resolution would require President Trump to seek authorization from Congress before further military strikes on cartels. Despite expectations for the bill to crumble under President Trump’s veto, officials proposed it as a way to discourage the President from further military escalation. Meanwhile, President Trump’s administration has yet to provide evidence to prove the alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats targeted by deadly U.S. strikes carried narcotics. Tension between the U.S. and Venezuela is having adverse effects in Trinidad and Tobago, which finds itself in the middle of a geopolitical face-off. Dozens of fishermen feel their lives are at risk given the ongoing strikes. Fishermen fear being killed because their boat could be mistaken for a drug-smuggling vessel, a fear reinforced by the uncertainty of the previous strikes' legitimacy. 

In Puerto Rico, the naked bodies of five men who were tortured and murdered were dumped in public areas, seemingly as a result of drug trafficking. Puerto Rico is considered a transit route for drugs due to its ideal position between the U.S. mainland and drug-producing countries. Meanwhile, Jamaican authorities imposed curfews after two shootings killed 5 people and injured 10 others. A majority of the violence in Jamaica and in the Caribbean can be attributed to guns illegally smuggled in from the U.S.

Europe

Written by Ethan Joyce

US-China Relations Changing the Foundation of the German Economy

The German automotive industry faces unprecedented structural challenges as geopolitical tensions reshape traditional market dynamics. Data released by the German Federal Statistics Office on October 8th revealed an 18.5% month-over-month decline in automotive production for September, prompting Chancellor Friedrich Merz to convene an emergency auto summit addressing what policymakers characterize as a systemic economic crisis.

Sector deterioration stems primarily from China's strategic manipulation of escalating trade tensions between the United States and the European Union, in conjunction with other macroeconomic factors (like a decrease in the production of manufacturing equipment). Chinese manufacturers, particularly BYD and Nio, asserted their presence in European markets by offering electric vehicles at increasingly competitive price points, effectively siphoning demand from established German automakers. This competitive pressure arrives at an already volatile time, as the EU’s transition to electric vehicles from combustion vehicles has proven more challenging than anticipated.

The implications of this extend beyond immediate production figures. Germany lost over half of its net car exports in the past four years, and motor vehicle exports constitute approximately 17% of Germany's annual export volume today, rendering the sector's vitality crucial to broader economic stability. Furthermore, the crisis threatens to undermine the EU’s environmental policy framework, specifically the planned phasing out of combustion engine vehicle sales by 2035. 

On October 9th, Federal Environment and Labor Ministers convened with automotive industry representatives to formulate a strategic response to Chinese pressures. Policy experts suggest several potential interventions, mainly restructured EU subsidies favoring domestically produced vehicles. The summit's outcomes will prove determinative for Germany's economic trajectory and its capacity to navigate the intersection of industrial policy, environmental commitments, and great power competition.

Middle East and North Africa

Written by Ansley Hovater

Political Conflicts Continue on the Path to Resolution in Both Israel and Syria

Diplomatic efforts intensified this past week to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas, while Syria underwent significant political shifts through its latest parliamentary elections.

On Sunday, October 5, as global anticipation built around peace talks between Israel and Hamas, Israeli airstrikes killed 15 people, according to hospital officials. This escalation occurred despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to de-escalate. Two days later, on October 7, leaders involved in the conflict gathered in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, for indirect negotiations over the first phase of Trump’s proposed 20-point peace plan. Phase one includes a mutual ceasefire, the exchange of hostages, and the repositioning of troops along a negotiated demarcation line. Israel currently awaits the return of 48 hostages, 20 of whom officials believe to be alive.

The talks continued through October 9, when U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani joined the discussions. Both Israel and Hamas signed an agreement enacting phase one of the plan. The Israeli military confirmed that it had begun preparing for troop withdrawals and would soon deploy forces in accordance with the ceasefire terms.

In Syria,  new parliamentary elections reshaped the nation’s legislature, with 119 of the 210 seats filled by new members. Only about 5% of the new lawmakers are women, and Christians continue to hold a minority presence, with Sunni Muslim men comprising the majority. Syria’s electoral commission acknowledged this imbalance as a major shortcoming but indicated that presidential appointments may create balance and diversity.

North America

Written by Layla Jeeth

House Bill to Reform Enforcement at U.S.-Canada Border 

In the U.S. Congress in September, Representative Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY) introduced a bill to allow U.S. and Canadian border patrol to enforce legal crossing on either side of the border. Canadian and U.S. border enforcers would each be permitted to operate in both countries, optimizing “integrated cross-border aerial, maritime, and land law enforcement operations.”

The collaboration would not be entirely new. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency already stations officers in popular origins for U.S.-destined travel. Nine of these fifteen “preclearance sites” are in Canada. American and Canadian border agents also share buildings but maintain distinct operations at two locations on the border: Oroville, Washington, and Sweetgrass, Montana. 

In 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency announced a test program for a related expansion to their preclearance program to allow Canadian border patrol officers stationed in the U.S. to pre-screen travelers headed to Canada. Langworthy also proposed the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act to increase intelligence analysis on the border conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These bills would fit into the ongoing collaboration between the U.S. and Canada in border patrol security operations, as both countries aim to inhibit drug trafficking and undocumented immigration.

South America

Written by Catie Crowe

What an Assassination Attempt Tells us About Rural Unrest in Ecuador

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa escaped what one minister described as an “assassination attempt” unharmed when his convoy was attacked by protesters in a rural town on Tuesday. Protesters threw rocks at the convoy, cracking windows as the vehicles drove by. Five people were arrested on charges of terrorism and attempted assassination. Noboa was en route to inaugurate a water treatment plant when the attack occurred. The attack is indicative of growing political tensions amidst protests against rising fuel prices.

Ecuadorians reelected Noboa in April for his promises to reduce murders, boost the economy, and fight drug gangs. His government has frequently invoked emergency powers, including deploying the armed forces, to tackle the crime rate. On September 12, Noboa ended diesel subsidies, sparking protests across rural Ecuador largely led by the national Indigenous federation CONAIE. CONAIE launched a national strike last month, accusing the government of brutal police action and poor social policies. The decision to raise diesel prices has led to violent clashes like the one on Noboa’s convoy.

This year, Ecuador reported a 40% rise in homicides compared to 2024. In late September, CONAIE and other protesters blocked roads and took 16 soldiers hostage (who were later released unharmed). Noboa has declared a state of emergency across several provinces after more than 100 people, including protesters and law enforcement, were believed to be injured in the unrest.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Written by Alex Whirley

Tanzania: A New Era of Authoritarianism?

The Tanzanian Government has intensified political repression, giving rise to serious concerns that the presidential election scheduled for October 29th will not be free or fair. Last week, Human Rights Watch reported that authorities suppressed political opposition and critics of the ruling party, stifled the media, and failed to ensure the electoral commission’s independence. For the first time in recent elections, Tanzania limited regional and international election monitoring, marking a significant turning point in the validity of its voting process. Democratic backsliding in Tanzania could destabilize the region, and neighboring states such as Kenya, Uganda, and Mozambique could face spillover effects, particularly as corruption deepens and economic conditions deteriorate.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking re-election in the October 2025 poll, is increasingly resembling her predecessor, John Pombe Magufuli, who engaged in increased media bans, journalism censorship, and attacks on the political opposition. In May of 2025, Tanzania’s Communications Regulation Authority shut down over 80,000 websites, social media accounts, blogs, and online platforms. After the 2020 election, opposition leaders were arrested and detained, and police shot protesting civilians. The 2025 election shows signs of repeated political violence from Hassan’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party.

From July to September 2025, Human Rights Watch interviewed 24 civil society activists, lawyers, religious leaders, academics, journalists, and opposition party members. The NGO reports harassment, assaults, abductions, media repression, and torture in the state. Human Rights Watch reports that thousands of voters in Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous island, have had their right to vote restricted. One human rights defender said, “If the system perceives you as someone voting for the opposition, you do not get a Zanzibari ID. If it is a family that traditionally votes for the opposition, you will not get it.”